First, He Was Suspended For Using Gay Slurs. Then, He Got Suspended For Racially Disparaging Actions. Now, Dallas’ Pro Overwatch League Team Has Released Felix “xQc” Lengyel.

The first-ever player to be suspended from the Overwatch League — also the first-ever player suspended twice — is now out of a job.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, the Dallas Fuel announced that it has “mutually agreed to part ways” with Felix “xQc” Lengyel.

Lengyel is one of two Dallas Fuel players to have gotten in trouble since league play began for using gay slurs on their personal livestreams. He was first suspended who was suspended for four games and fined $2,000 by the league’s governing body in January after he used a number of homophobic slurs to insult an openly gay Houston Outlaws player during a livestream. Over the weekend, his teammate Timo “Taimou” Kettunen was fined $1,000 for his own use of anti-gay slurs on a stream.

Legnyel’s second suspension was also announced at the same time as Kettunen’s — this one due to his repeated use of “racially disparaging” in-game actions. For his second offense, the league’s penalty was the same as his first and Lengyel was once again suspended four games and fined $2,000.

But if Lengyel us to serve out that suspension, it won’t be with the Dallas Fuel, with whom he played just six games over the course of the Overwatch League’s inaugural season before getting released. Prior to announcing its split with Lengyel, the team set the stage for his exit by signing a new player — Son “OGE” Min-Seok — who plays his same position.

As part of Sunday night’s statement, Dallas Fuel owner Mike Rufail provided the following quote about the decision to part ways with Lengyel: “There are few players out there who have achieved as much success in as short a time as Félix has in competitive Overwatch. Ultimately, it was in the best interest of our organization and Félix to part ways before the expiration of his contract. No one wants to see Félix succeed more than we do, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him. I want to thank him for his time and the passion he brought to the Dallas Fuel.”

The last time the team had to release a statement about an issue with Lengyel’s behavior, it used the same “No one wants to see Félix succeed more than we do” line.

It’s worth noting, too, that this most recent statement also goes out of its way to call Lengyel “one of the best [Overwatch] players in the world.” By pointing out that the league’s suspension would prohibit Lengyel from participating in team activities, the statement also paints the decision to part ways with Lengyel as a business decision.

Most notably, though, the statement never once mentions Lengyel’s homophobic or racist behavior, simply noting that he had been suspended “for player conduct reasons.”

Read the statement in full below.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dallas Fuel Announce Release of Félix “xQc” Lengyel

DALLAS (March 11, 2018) – The Dallas Fuel and tank player Félix “xQc” Lengyel announced they have mutually agreed to part ways. Lengyel, known as one of the best Winston players in the world, had appeared in six Overwatch League matches for the Dallas Fuel this season. His original contract with the team was set to expire at the end of the inaugural Overwatch League season.

“There are few players out there who have achieved as much success in as short a time as Félix has in competitive Overwatch. Ultimately, it was in the best interest of our organization and Félix to part ways before the expiration of his contract,” said Mike Rufail, owner of the Dallas Fuel. “No one wants to see Félix succeed more than we do, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him. I want to thank him for his time and the passion he brought to the Dallas Fuel.”

Earlier this week, the Overwatch League suspended xQc from league competition for four matches for player conduct reasons. The recent suspension by the Overwatch League prohibits Lengyel from playing or practicing with any team for the remainder of Stage 2.

“Our focus is to field a roster with players that are available to help the Dallas Fuel succeed now and in the future. Releasing Félix today allows us the flexibility to make additional signings during the league transfer window and allows Félix to pursue other opportunities this season and on stream.”

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